Zinc-smelting furnace.



190,794,799, PATENTE) JULY 19', 1995. B. c. HEGBYLER. zum SMBLTING 'PURNAGL No. 794,799. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. E. C. HEGBLER.

ZINC SMELTING FURNAGE.

APPLIOATION FILED rmspz, 190s.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

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PATENTBD JULY 18, 1905.

E. C. HBGELER.

ZINC SMELTING PURNAGB APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2,1903.

8 SHBETS-SHEBT 3.

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PATENTED JULY 18, 1905.

E. G. HBGELER. ZINC SMBLTING PURNAGB.

APPLICATION FILED IBB.2,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET ANDREW a. GRAHAM cu., LIYHOGRAPNERS, wAsNmGwN. oy c.

No. 794,799. PATENTED JULY 18, 1905. B. C. HBGBLER.

ZINC SMELTING PURNAGE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 2, 1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5 N l n b No. 794,799. PATENTED JULY 18, '1905.

E. C. HBGELBR. ZINC SMBLTING FURNACE.

APPLICATION FILED YBB. Z, 1903.

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10.794,799. f PATBNTBD JULY18,1905. E. o. HEGELER.

ZINC SMBLTING FURNAGE.

APPLICATION FILED H1B. 2, 1903.

f a SHEETS-SHEET 7,

PATBNTED JULY 1a, 1905.

E. C. HEGELBR. v ZINC s/I-EILLING PURNACB.

APPLIOATION FILED FEB. 2,1903.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 8.

Ivo. 794,799.

'Patented July 18, 1905.

NITED STATES PATENT OEEICE.

EDVARD O. HEGELER, OF LASALLE, ILLINOIS.

ZINC-SNIELTING FURNACE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 794,799, dated July 18, 1905.

Application filed February 2, 1903. Serial No. 141,520.

To all 'wh/0711, it 777,047/ cmi/cern:

Be it known that I, EDWARD C. HEGELEE, of

Lasalle, in the county of Lasalle, in the State of Illinois, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Zinc-Smelting Furnaces, of which the following is a specification.

The invention relates to that class o f4 Belgian zinc-smelting furnaces in which the retorts are arranged in a horizontal iiue or chamber of great length. In this class of smelting-furnaces the gases (including air) are introduced at the entrance end and along the course of the chamber. A pressure above atmospheric pressure and nearly uniform throughout the whole length of the retortchamber is desired and movement of the gases through the chamber is required in the working of the furnace. Resistance to the movement of the gases increases with the length of the chamber, so as to require (suction in the chamber being injurious)A a pressure so great in the chamber near the entrance end as to be detrimental there, and also the greater this pressure becomes the more diflicult and expensive it is to produce.4

The furnace construction considered in this specification relates entirely to the long flue- .like chamber concerning which, as stated in former United States Patent No. 220,831, it was a separate part of that invention to arrange the long flue-like chamber horizontally. The specification of said patent states that the comparatively greater velocity of the gases in the direction of the iiues axis (caused by its narrow interior profile when compared to its great length) will cause them to pass along in the flue-like chamber when arranged horizontally nearly as rapidly at its bottom.

as at its top side, and experience in the use of the furnace constructed as shown in said patent, Figures 2, 5, and 8, proved that the upper tier of retorts were heated somewhat too hot. Relief from this was sought and obtained by contracting the space in the flue above the upper tier of retorts by lowering the rear of the top arch down toa little below the upper line of the top tier of retorts at their rear end, (making recesses in the arch heat of the upper retorts carries with it an increase-of the resistance to the passage of the fire-gases through the flue-like horizontal chamber. Other changes in the construction of the furnace from the design of said patent of 1879 had previously been made, viz: First, the perforated retorts to serve for the introduction of air into thev retort-chamber and placed between the retorts charged with ore were omitted, thereby creating open vertical spaces between the several sections of fourore retorts each, and, second, the floor below the bottom tier of retorts of the long line-like chamber was lowered to give space for droppings from the retorts above; but dams of sand were made on the ioor at every section of four retorts of a height sufficient to project a little into the vertical spaces between the sections of retorts to obstruct the draft. These spaces below may have helped some toward the heating of the lower tiers of retorts more uniformly with the upper ones. It was also found that in a furnace consisting of eighteen sections of four retorts each hori zontally and six rows high the sand dams could be omitted under the first seven sections without showing bad effects on the uniformity of the heating. The resistance to the movement of the gases in the longiiue-like horizontal chamber from entrance to exit was ing but rather facilitating the uniform heating of all the retorts in securing a greater mixing of the gases 1n the upper and lower parts of the retort-chamber, maintaining the uniformity of the gases while passing through IOO with but improving the uniformity of the heating ofthe retorts by having said open space in recesses in conjunction with open space or spaces in such chamber under the lowermost tier of retorts. I attain these results by providing the bottom and top of the retort-chamber with a series of recesses above and below the retorts, which recesses I prefer to have staggered in the bottom and top rather than arranged opposite to one another, as the staggered form gives the better results.

Another object is to give greater uniformity ofthe gases in the retort-chamber near the entrance, and another object is to increase the heat near the working front of the retortchamber and reduce it at the rear wall, on which the rear ends of the retorts are supported.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, showing a furnace comprising two retort-chambers arranged side by side, by which these objects are obtained.

Fig. 1 is a vertical longitudinal section of a central fragment of a retort-chamber embodying the first part of my invention and showing the retorts arranged therein. Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view of a furnace constructed for the use of generator-gases with therein, with rear ends resting on steps B' of l the central wall.

chambers, taken at the line 2 2of Fig. 2.

the improvements applied, showing a fragment of that end of the retort-chambers where Vthe gases are introduced in connection with a fragment of the induction-Hue on the line 1 1 of Fig. 3. Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show fragments of a vertical longitudinal section of one of the In these views, Fig. 3 shows the front part with a fragment of the gas-induction flue whereby the gases enter. Fig. 4 shows the central part, and Fig. 5 the rear part, at the exit of the retort-chamber with a fragment of the exit-flue. Fig. 6 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the chamber, taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 3. Fig. 7 is an enlarged fragmentary transverse section of the chamber on the line 7 v7 of Fig. 3. Fig. 8 is a detail showing an enlarged horizontal sec- Ation in fragment through the front wall of the chamber at the plane of one of the air-inlets. Fig. 9is a detail showingaverticalsection on the line 9 9 of Fig. 8. Fig. 10 is a Vdetail showing a fragment of a front elevation of the means for closing the air-pipes before the air-inlets. Fig. 11 is a detail showing a perspective view of a slotted stopper for the air-inlets. F ig. 12 is a detail showing one of the air-inlet tubes. Fig. 13 is a detail showing a modification.

.In the drawings, A designates long hori- Zontal retort-chambers arranged on opposite sides of a central wall A', and B the retorts vThe distance of the retorts-apart in the horivZontal rows is ordinarily about two inches,

more or less, except at intervals where they are preferably placed farther apart: to form greater spaces before the air-inlets, as shown at a a, so as to form groups of retorts intermediate the said spaces at L a. The uppermost row of retorts is near the top or roof of the chambers in every alternate section or group of retorts, but not in the sections between them, and the lowermost row is considerably above the bottom or floor, with a sand dam on the floor under every alternate section of the retorts.

'I`he top or roof of each of the chambers is formed of a succession of high sections or arches C and low sections or arches C on each side of the central wall arranged alternately throughout the entire length of the chambers, the high sections forming a series of recesses 1, in which no retorts are placed, and the bottom or lioor of each chamber is level or fiat except at points under the high arches, where it is-provided with dams or ridges C2, best formed of sand piled up on the floor, so that the apex of the pile shall come justa little below the under side of the lowermost row of retorts. The flat bottom thus provided with the ridges running transversely of the chamber forms a series of recesses 2, in which also no retorts are placed.

Figs. 3, 4, and 5 show the relative arrangement of the arches, the ridges, the recesses, and the retorts arranged in groups, the upper and lower recesses each being connected by the air-inlet spaces between the groups of retorts. rIhe low arches C are arranged transversely of the chambers and abut against the upper end of the central wall A at the rearl and against a V-shaped iron casting at the top ofthe front wall A2, sb as to approach the upper surfaces of the uppermost row of retorts, and the high arches C are extended longitudinally of the chambers over the spaces between the transverse arches and have their ends abutting against and supported by the opposite edges of the arches, as shown at c, except at the starting-points at the ends of the chambers. Said transverse arches thus unite with the central and front walls of the chambers approximately at the same level and, with the high arches, form a continuous roof or top along the entire length of both chambers.

By the construction of the roof and bottom of the long horizontal chamber so as to form TOO IOS

IIO

staggered recesses therein and improved by Y is reduced and the increased space `is so dis- IZO 'rames posed relatively to the retorts as to secure the better mixing of the gases in their movement through the chamber.

In operation the gases move unobstructed horizontally through the space between the retorts with a slight movement upward as,

they approach the recesses in the roof and a slight movement downward as they approach the recesses in the bottom of the chamber. In

the vertical spaces between the groups of re` torts, if there be such, an upward or downward movement takes place besides 'the horizontal movement. The spaces between the ridges on the bottom of the chamber become larger than heretofore, when there were ridges under every section of retorts, by leaving out every alternate ridge, and the molten droppings from the retorts and interior of the chamber can be more easily broken up and removed than in the old construction.

The arched roof may be so made that it will settle with the settling of the central wall,`

from shrinkage of the wall, without impair'- ing the arch structure or support of the roof. With this end in view the inner or rear ends Vlof the low transverse arches C are made to abut against the wall A for the space of about one-fourth their thickness only, as shown at c', Fig. 7, the upper part projecting above the upper line of the said wall, an open space being left at c2 above said wall and between the upper part of the ends of opposite arches C, which span the chambers on opposite sides of the central wall. This open space is covered by long bricks c3, laid loosely upon the adjacent ends of the transverse arches over said intervening space. When the wall A shrinks or settles down under the effect of the heat of the furnace, the inner ends of said low arches and their connection with the said wall can yield, without breaking, sufficient to let said arches go down with the central wall without material injury to the roof structure. The wall A at the points between the high longitudinal arches C is constructed higher, as shown at D, Fig. 6, but should not come up to the under surface of these arches. Theinner edges of these arches, as shown at 0*, approach each other, when the central wall A settles. The open space between the wall A and the lower edges of the high arches is covered by bricks c5, resting on the central wall and leaning against the edges of the said longitudinal arches. An outer covering of long bricks c6 is provided to close over the space between the inner edges of the adjacent high or longitudinal arches C.

The rear end of the chamber where the burned gases pass out is provided with an exit c' at about the level of the top, and 'the last ridge C2 is placed under the last transverse arch (y and extended to the end wall a2, which directs the gases up to the exit. They pass thence througha flue b to an airheater`(not shown) or may be allowed to escape through the opening Z2', provided with a slide-valve b2.

In smelting-fu-rnaces of the class mentioned as heretofore constructed the generator-gases are mixed with sufficient air to heat them tov the temperature required at the first retorts through air-inlet openings in the outer side walls of the entrance of the chamber just before the first retorts. The size of these airinlet openings is made and regulated with great care by slight enlargement or reduction of size to obtain the right degree of heat and also a uniform heat of the first section of retorts. The quantity of air that has to be let into the generator-gases before their contact with the first retorts is a large part of the. air required for their complete combustion, and the thorough mixing of it with the generatorgases necessary for a uniform heating of the first retorts is diiicult, and local injury to the retorts and walls from heat results, as also inequality in the working of the two retortchambers. In the endeavor to overcome this difficulty I have let air into the sides of the gas-fine leading from the producer to the retort-chamber, but did not obtain any satisfactory results. My improvement now consists in the introduction of mixing devices, together with the air-inlet openings in the walls of the gas-Hue. I make these air-inlet openings of such dimensions that they will admit into the gas-flue nearly all the air that has to be brought to the gas before its contact with the retorts, and I connect a valve with these openings by which I regulate the somewhat varying quantity of necessary air resulting from the inequalities of the producer-gas. As the mixing devices hereinafter described would be injured by heat notwithstanding their solid construction if the whole air (required before the first retorts) should be let in at the new place, I retain the air-inlet openings at the entrance to the retort-chambers, but reduce their dimensions until I notice injury to the gas-flue, when I slightly enlarge them again.

The mixing devices which I have employed and which are illustrated in Figs. 2 and 3 of the drawings are twofold. First, I have the generator-gases as they come through the Hue or its by-passage E' (provided with a valve e) pass through a contracted portion c e' of said flue, in the opposite sides of which large airinlet openings e2 e2 are provided and distributed over the sides, as shown in Fig. 3, through which air is introduced into said contracted portion; second, from this contracted portion of the flue, which is horizontal, I have the generator-gases in a sudden break, causinga whirl, pass into an enlarged vertical portion of the iue in which they descend and from IOO IIO

IIS

the retort-chambers, receiving additional air through smaller air-inlet openings e, placed just before the first retorts. The horizontal part of the flue is preferably slightly further contracted for a short distance at e5. The gases passing through the horizontal part receive air introduced at e2 c2 from opposite sides of the iiue and thence pass into the vertical part with a whirl and are thoroughly mixed throughout their entire volume with the air so introduced before passing into the entranceopenings of the retort-chambers. The entrance-openings e3 @3 into the chambers consist in arched passages through the thick wall A3 of the retort-chamber and are inclined toward the working front sides of the chambers, the outer sides of said passages being about in line with the interior of the front walls A2 of the chambers. The end wall A3 is constructed on a curve, as seen in Fig. 2, with the convex side joined firmly to the end of the central wall Al as integral therewith, so as to cover and protect the end of said central Wall, while the concave part forms one side of the vertical part of the gas-flue.

The ordinary means for supplying and regulating the inlet of air to the chambers consists of a series of air-pipes F, which are connected with mains F overhead and communicate with a source of hot-,air supply under pressure. The air-pipes F are arranged opposite to the spaces a a between the retorts and are provided with openings in their inner side, having fianges fand similar openings in their outer side, provided with a verticallysliding door f, Figs. 8 to 11, said openings being in line. The door has projecting lugs, adapted t0 slide down behind inclined ears 4 of the pipe F to hold the door over the opening in the outer side. The flangesfare pressed into the plastic lire-clay structure f2 of the front wall in the process of erection and while it is wet. Then a hole f3 is bored through the said plastic structure corresponding in diameter of bore with the interior of the flangef. rlhis bored .hole f3 (after the clay is dry) is filled with soft fre-clayf4 and then at the site of hole g3, Fig. 13, a hole is made through it with a bar of such cross-section as the hole is to have. The size of this hole at g3 is the ordinary means for regulating the quantity of air admitted at this place, and the air comes out of the hole in a jet, striking the wall A. Now instead of filling the bored hole f3 with soft lire-clay and making a hole through it with a bar, as described, I insert into hole f3 a short burnt fire-clay tube G, closed at one end g and having an opening g in the side near said end, so that its end with the opening r/ will project a short distance from the front wall into the retort-chamber.

In the specilcation of the former Patent No. 220,831 there are described large air-retorts the same as the ore-retorts and supported at both ends on the rear and front walls and provided with perforations along their whole chamber through said holes g3.

length for letting air from the retort into the chamber. The short burnt fire-clay tube G here described is such a retort, except being in miniature and having openings near the closed end only and bringing air into the chamber near the front wall only and supported at its open end only by being there embedded in the front wall.

The opening g is large, so as not to make a jet of air, but diffuse it near the front wall, and does not regulate the quantity of air admitted. The lire-clay tube G after insertion into the hole f3 is made tight therein with fire-clay. The regulation of the quantity of air to be admitted through tube G is done by the size of the slotted opening g2, cut into a new sheet-iron stopper G', which stopper is inserted into the inner flange f at its junction with the pipe F, which has been reamed for the purpose of making a close fit with the stopper. This removable stopper G', with the regulating-opening g2, can also be used to advantage in connection with a hole g3 made through a filling of soft fire-clayfat inside of hole f3, the hole g3 being made larger than the hole at this place, as ordinarily used to regu'- late the quantity of air let into the chamber. The filling f4 then serves for making a hole g3 into the chamber of less diameter than the hole f3, so as to prevent the chamber-gases from circulating into said hole f3. It further or larger within the area of said hole f3 for giving more or less jet to the air entering the The advantage consists in saving the attention, care, and labor required for keeping the holes now at g3 in perfect order, they being the regulatingholes,as is well known.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. In a zinc-smelting furnace of the class specified a long, horizontal retort-chamber through which the gases pass unobstructed, except by the retorts, in the direction of its greatest extension and having a roof provided with a series of recesses, and a bottom provided with a series of' recesses, in combination with the retorts arranged between the roof and bottom, in the space outside the recesses, substantially as specified.

2. In a zinc-smelting furnace of the class specified a long, horizontal retort-chamber through which the gases pass unobstructed, except by the retorts, in the direction of' its greatest extension and having a roof provided with a series of recesses, and a bottom provided with a series of recesses, the recesses of the roof and bottom being staggered, in combination with the retorts arranged between the roof and bottom, in the space outside the recesses, substantially as specified.

3. In a zinc-smelting furnace of the class specified Va long, horizontal retort-chamber serves for making said hole g3 either smaller through which the gases pass unobstructed, except by the retorts, in the direction of its greatest extension having staggered recesses inits roof and its bottom and in combination with the retorts arranged in the space outside the recesses and separated into groups by open vertical spaces, the recesses in the roof and bottom being arranged alternately over and under the space occupied by a group ofretorts and the pair of open vertical spaces adjacent thereto as speciiied.

4. In a Zinc-smelting furnace of the class specified the long, horizontal retort-chamber provided with air-inlet openings at its entrance, the gas-flue leading to the chamber provided at a point some distance from the chamber with air-inlet openings, and mixing devices in the iue, located between the airinlet opening thereof and the air-inletopenings at the chamber-entrance, as specified.

5. In a zinc-smelting furnace of the class speciiied having air-inlet pipes F, provided with inside openings at f, the removable sheet-iron slotted stopper G for'said openings, substantially as speciiied.

6. In azinc-smelting furnace of the class described, the long horizontal chamber provided with vertical rows of openings inthe :t'ront wall at intervals, vertical air-pipes/provided with coincident openings in their inner and outer sides registering with said openings in the front wall, and air-inlet pipes shorter than the chambers width, provided with closed inner ends and side openings, and extending from the openings in the front wall into such chamber, as specified.

EDWARD C. HEGELER.

VVitn esses ANNIE M. ADAMS, RACHEL ELiAssoF. 

